Daily Quiz #17 UPSC Prelims Marathon – October 22, 2019

Explanation: Cloud seeding is a kind of weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall. It works only when there are enough pre-existing clouds in the atmosphere. Rain happens when moisture in the air reaches levels at which it can no longer be held and cloud seeding aims to facilitate and accelerate that process by making available chemical ‘nuclei’ around which the condensation can take place. These seeds of rain can be the iodides of silver or potassium, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) or liquid propane. The seeds can be delivered by plane or simply by spraying from the ground.

Explanation: The scheme has been launched in the year 2018 as part of Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) Program for accelerating the annual rate of decline of anaemia from one to three percentage points. The target groups for AMB are Children 6-59 months, 5-9 years, Adolescent Girls & Boys of 10-19 years, Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years), Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.

Explanation: North Atlantic Treaty Organization also called North Atlantic Alliance is an intergovernmental military alliance. It was formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty. It consists of 29 countries from North America and Europe. It is headquartered at Brussels, Belgium. NATO was originally set up in the post-World War II atmosphere of anxiety largely to block Soviet expansion into Europe. The goal of NATO is to safeguard the Allies freedom and security by political and military means.

Explanation: Nepal government has objected to the inclusion of ‘Kalapani’ under the Indian Territory as per the newly released political map of India after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. Kalapani is a 35 square kilometre area.The Kali River in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal. Both India and Nepal claim Kalapani as an integral part of their territories with India as part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district and Nepal as part of the Darchula district.

Explanation: Pliosaurs were aquatic carnivorous reptiles that lived between 220 and 70 million years ago. They are classified in the order Plesiosauria along with their long-necked relatives, the plesiosaurs. They were characterized by massive heads, short necks, and streamlined tear-shaped bodies. They were the largest aquatic carnivorous reptiles that have ever lived and are often dubbed sea monsters. They measured over 10 metres in length and can weigh up to several dozen tons. They had powerful, large skulls and massive jaws with large sharp teeth. Recently, people have discovered the bones of Pliosaur in a cornfield in the Polish village of Krzyzanowice.